Mets Walk Tightrope To Maintain Their Lead

By PAT BORZI

Published: September 3, 2008

MILWAUKEE -- For a Mets team trying to protect a two-game lead in the National League East, the situation was not ideal. The left-hander Jon Niese failed to get an out in the fourth inning in his major league debut, even after getting a four-run lead. That forced Manager Jerry Manuel to begin his nightly parade of relief pitchers earlier than usual.

The Brewers bungled a bunt play to help the Mets score a run in the top of the 10th. Then the Mets' most recent closer, Luis Ayala, made it interesting in the bottom half. He allowed a two-out double to the rookie Brad Nelson, then walked pinch-hitter Gabe Kapler before striking out Rickie Weeks to finish the 6-5 victory.

''That's the way we win,'' Manuel said. ''We're a tightrope team -- period.''

The Mets could not lengthen their division lead, however; the Phillies beat Washington, 4-0. But with their fifth victory in six games, the Mets guaranteed themselves a winning record on this eight-game trip leading into this weekend's three-game series with the Phillies at Shea Stadium.

Daniel Murphy, pinch-hitting for Smith, singled to start the winning rally. Catcher Jason Kendall fielded Jos?eyes's sacrifice attempt, but his throw appeared to hit Reyes, who was safe as Murphy chugged to third. Endy Ch?z's sacrifice fly to right allowed Murphy to score.

''When you're pinch-hitting, the situation dictates exactly what you're going to do,'' Murphy said. ''In that situation, we don't need a double or a home run. I need to get on base.''

Ayala picked up his second save in two days and his fifth since joining the Mets in an Aug. 17 trade with Washington. Weeks, who already had four hits, drilled a hard grounder just foul past third on the fourth pitch of the at-bat. On the next pitch, he struck out swinging.

Having a rookie pitcher make his debut in September in the midst of a division race is certainly not what Manuel would have preferred. But once John Maine went on the disabled list with a bone spur in his right shoulder, Manuel knew something like this was inevitable. And Manuel had no way of knowing whether Niese could handle it.

''I get nervous for him, no question,'' Manuel said before the game. ''He feels some nerves. He has to. I just hope he gets through it, and gets it behind him as quick as possible.''

Manuel said he wished for six or seven innings from Niese, and was hoping for at least five. Niese gave him only three, and five batters in the fourth -- which was three innings more than Niese looked capable of early.

Weeks hit Niese's second pitch over the left-field wall. Niese's next five pitches missed the strike zone, and he walked J. J. Hardy and Ryan Braun. Somehow, Niese worked out of the mess. Prince Fielder grounded out, then Niese struck out Corey Hart and Mike Cameron.

The Mets tried to make it easier for Niese, scoring twice in the second, then making it 5-1 on Carlos Beltr?s three-run homer in the third.

Niese, though, did not retire a batter in the four-run fourth as the Brewers strung together five consecutive hits to chase him. The final one was Hardy's run-scoring ground single to make it a one-run game. That finished Niese, who gave up seven hits, walked four, and was charged with five earned runs.

''That fourth inning kind of got away from me,'' Niese said. ''I didn't command my fastball as well as I wanted to, and they were sitting on my off-speed stuff. That's what they were looking for.''

Nelson Figueroa, who worked a scoreless seventh inning on Monday, came on to strike out the dangerous Braun swinging. He walked Fielder before Hart blooped an R.B.I. single to left-center, though Beltr?threw out Hardy at the plate trying to score the go-ahead run.

''If you keep them short, keep them having some success, they feel comfortable about themselves,'' Manuel said in explaining his use of so many relievers, sometimes for just one batter.

Ch?z, who replaced Nick Evans in left for defensive purposes, kept the tying run out of scoring position in the Brewers' eighth by throwing out Weeks trying to stretch a single into a double.

INSIDE PITCH

Left fielder Nick Evans saved two runs in the fifth with a nifty running catch toward the wall for the final out. ... After running and taking fly balls before batting practice, CARLOS BELTRN said his sore right knee felt stable enough for him to play. ''I can tolerate what I feel,'' Beltr?said. ''There's not sharp pain, just soreness in the area.'' The umpire ED RAPUANO said he felt ''a little embarrassed'' that Beltr?upended him. But he did not fault Beltr? and said he felt relieved that Beltr?was fine. ... PEDRO MART?EZ's return to New York to work with his personal physical therapist, CHRIS CORRENTI, raised no red flags for JERRY MANUEL, who said Mart?z's right shoulder never got loose during his Sunday start in Florida. ''With Pedro, flexibility is very important,'' Manuel said. ''He didn't have the flexibility to reach back.''

PHOTOS: Mets catcher Robinson Cancel tagged out the Brewers' J. J. Hardy trying to score in the fourth inning, preventing Milwaukee from taking the lead.(PHOTOGRAPH BY MORRY GASH/ASSOCIATED PRESS) (pg. D1); Jon Niese, left, ran into trouble in the fourth in his major league debut. Carlos Beltrán hit a 3-run homer for the Mets in the third.(PHOTOGRAPH BY LEFT, ALLEN FREDRICKSON/REUTERS; MORRY GASH/ASSOCIATED PRESS)(pg. D2)